Executive Summary
- A Charlotte man, Joshua Long, was arrested by federal agents on Tuesday while documenting U.S. Border Patrol activities.
- Long was charged with simple assault on a federal officer; the Department of Homeland Security alleged vehicular assault, a claim Long denies.
- Supporters of Long contend that he was arrested in retaliation for filming the federal agents.
- Long’s attorney reported being denied access to his client for several hours while he was in FBI custody, raising concerns about the right to counsel.
A Charlotte man who was documenting the activities of federal immigration agents was arrested Tuesday and later charged with simple assault on a federal officer, an accusation he denies. Joshua Long was taken into custody by U.S. Border Patrol agents in a shopping center parking lot and held for approximately six hours at an FBI field office before being released.
According to an unsigned email from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Long was arrested for “vehicular assault against a federal agent.” However, Long and his supporters dispute this account. His partner, Gabrielle Sorge, and friend Lucy Selby stated they were monitoring the agents to alert neighbors and believe Long was arrested because he was documenting their presence. “He was documenting, and they didn’t like that,” Sorge said.
Long provided his own account after his release, stating that he was following the agents to inform the community of their location when they began driving aggressively toward him. He said he attempted to maneuver away when he was cornered, at which point agents drew a weapon, pulled him from his vehicle, and arrested him on the ground. Long denies that his vehicle ever made contact with the agents’ car.
The case has also raised legal questions regarding access to counsel. Long’s attorney, Xavier T. de Janon, stated he was denied access to his client for several hours while Long was held at the FBI office. De Janon expressed concern over a potential violation of constitutional rights, saying, “Criminal defendants’ access to counsel is one of the most fundamental rights in this country.” An FBI spokesperson said the agency adheres to the law.
Long, who is scheduled to appear in court in May, was released Tuesday evening. The incident occurs amid heightened U.S. Border Patrol enforcement in Charlotte, where the Department of Homeland Security reported arresting 200 people. It is important to note that all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.